Patents by Inventor Micheal L. Shackelford

Micheal L. Shackelford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8616972
    Abstract: Various methods for interacting with mechanical reels via a video screen are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a gaming machine having one or more mechanical reels positioned behind a video screen, wherein the video screen includes a touch screen and user interface for receiving user input. The mechanical reels spin and generate a game outcome, visible to the player through a video screen. A request is received, via the user interface, to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and the rearranged order of the mechanical reels is displayed on the video screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Keith Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8414381
    Abstract: A system and method for remapping a game wheel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for remapping a wheel comprises providing a wagering game having a wheel divided into a plurality of wheel segments. A map is selected from a library before producing a game outcome. Each map defines particular weights for the wheel segments on the wheel. Once the map is selected, particular weights are assigned to the wheel segments as defined by the selected map, wherein the particular weights are assigned to the wheel segments before a game outcome is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin A. Hein, Micheal L. Shackelford
  • Publication number: 20120165089
    Abstract: Various methods for interacting with mechanical reels via a video screen are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a gaming machine having one or more mechanical reels positioned behind a video screen, wherein the video screen includes a touch screen and user interface for receiving user input. The mechanical reels spin and generate a game outcome, visible to the player through a video screen. A request is received, via the user interface, to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and the rearranged order of the mechanical reels is displayed on the video screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Keith Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, JR.
  • Patent number: 8128495
    Abstract: Various methods for interacting with mechanical reels via a video screen are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a gaming machine having one or more mechanical reels positioned behind a video screen, wherein the video screen includes a touch screen and user interface for receiving user input. The mechanical reels spin and generate a game outcome, visible to the player through a video screen. A request is received, via the user interface, to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and the rearranged order of the mechanical reels is displayed on the video screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Keith Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090275382
    Abstract: Various methods for interacting with mechanical reels via a video screen are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a gaming machine having one or more mechanical reels positioned behind a video screen, wherein the video screen includes a touch screen and user interface for receiving user input. The mechanical reels spin and generate a game outcome, visible to the player through a video screen. A request is received, via the user interface, to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and the rearranged order of the mechanical reels is displayed on the video screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Keith Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090275383
    Abstract: Systems for enhancing a mechanical reel game are disclosed. In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a video screen having a touch screen, and a set of mechanical reels positioned behind the video screen. A user interface is displayed on the video screen and is configured to receive user input to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels. The video screen then displays the mechanical reels in the rearranged order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Keith Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090275386
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing a mechanical reel game are disclosed. According to one method, a game is initiated by spinning a plurality of mechanical reels in response to a player wager, wherein each mechanical reel has a plurality of game symbols. The gaming machine ascertains whether a triggering event is established during the game. In response to a triggering event, one or more video images are presented and overlay one or more the mechanical reels to obscure the game symbols on the mechanical reels in response to the triggering event. In one embodiment, the video images include one or more video depictions of game symbols. The mechanical reels obscured by the video images are fixed, and the mechanical reels not obscured by the video images are spun. One or more paylines are evaluated for winning outcomes based on the combination of the video depictions of game symbols and the game symbols presented on the mechanical reels on the one or more paylines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: John Vallejo, Micheal L. Shackelford, Christopher Paul Noll, Christopher Ray England, Kolth Rucker, John Edward Garofalo, JR.